Infant crying, parental stress and attachment: A structural equation modelling approach

Abstract

Introduction Excessive infant crying is a common concern for parents and has been associated with child behavioral problems, parenting stress, and postnatal depression. This study explored the relationship between perceptions of excessive infant crying at six months, maternal attachment at six months, and mother's parenting stress at 24 months. Methods Data from a randomized controlled trial of a five-year early intervention program targeting children's school readiness skills in a disadvantaged area of Ireland were used. Participants were enrolled between 2008 and 2016 into three groups: high support, low support, and no treatment. The present study included all families present in the trial at 24 months. Infant crying was assessed at six months using a maternal reported measure of duration of infant crying. Maternal attachment was assessed at six months using the Condon Maternal Attachment Scale. Parenting stress was assessed at 24 months using the childrearing stress subscale from the Parenting Stress Index. Structural Equation Modelling was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of infant, maternal, and environmental characteristics, and perception of infant crying on parental stress, focusing on the mediating role of attachment. Results One hundred and ninety-nine families were included. Excessive infant crying at six months had a statistically significant indirect effect [standardized coefficient: 0.06; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.01, 0.11], mediated by maternal attachment, on parenting stress at 24 months, leading to a significant total effect (0.15, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.27). Vulnerable attachment style (0.24, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.37), previous mental health (0.17, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.28), low father's education (0.12, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.24), and father's involvement with child (0.13, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.24) were associated with higher levels of parenting stress at 24 months. Being married (−0.15, 95% CI: −0.27, −0.04) and maternal attachment (−0.34, 95 CI: −0.46, −0.22) were associated with less parenting stress. Conclusions Attachment could be systematically assessed among mothers who report excessive infant crying. Additional support could be proposed to mothers with low maternal attachment, without neglecting support for all parents.